Viaplay, the Scandinavian media heavyweight, has appointed William Linders as its new chief executive (CEO) in the Netherlands to succeed Roger Lodewick, who is stepping down after less than a year in the role.

Linders will head up the company’s operations in the market from 1 January and report to Jørgen Madsen Lindemann, Viaplay Group’s president and CEO.

Lodewick will leave Viaplay effective immediately to pursue new challenges.

He only took up the position as CEO of Viaplay Netherlands in January this year.

Lodewick, who has a 20-year executive track record spanning a wide range of global gaming, entertainment, media, and sports businesses, joined Viaplay from esports company ESL FACEIT Group where he was president of sports games.

Linders, meanwhile, was recently director and partner of Utrecht-based digital content firm OD Media.

He also held management positions at VodafoneZiggo, Fox Mobile and Endemol Shine.

Viaplay (under its previous guise of Nordic Entertainment Group) launched in the Netherlands in March 2022 and covers a wide range of live sporting action in that market, including English soccer’s Premier League, motor racing’s prestigious Formula 1 (F1) series, and PDC Darts.

Its sports rights portfolio in the market also includes the German Bundesliga, EFL Championship, and Carabao Cup soccer properties, as well as field hockey, and kickboxing.

Viaplay retained its exclusive F1 rights in the Netherlands in April in a new five-year deal running through 2029.